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 | cutter
Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 1307 The South Shore of Lake Ontario, New York 
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2002-01-30 35108
I own a 2000 Tacoma. It is a 4cyl. with standard shift. I wanted the six, but they apparently did not offer it in the standard cab at the time. Mine has not been back to the dealer, I love it, the wife hates it. She prefered my Wrangler, more cabin room. I have done light towing and plan on buying a larger trailer soon. I believe I will be ok with 5000# for short trips. Toyota suggests a six for that weight but with the standard shift and my towing experience, I don't believe I will have a problem.
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 | Jeff B
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2002-01-30 35110
I have a 96 Tacoma with the 6 cyl and have pulled trailers up to 5000 lb in hilly country. Once even towed a buddy's busted Trooper from Silverton to Durango on a tow dolly (even farther than that really, but that's another story). It does ok with smaller loads, say about 2500 lb, but its pretty short on power for the rated maximum load, especially going uphill. Also, the max tongue weight squats the rear suspension pretty badly. My clutch is acting up too, and I suspect its not really up to the task for heavy towing. Its a great truck, but I'm thinking its really not the right tool for pulling a 5000 lb trailer. ....
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada 
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2002-01-31 35130
Maybe the lackluster engine performance has something to do with the fact that Silverton is about 7000 feet above sea level. On a warm day at that altitude, any normally aspirated engine will only develop about 60 percent of its rated sea level horsepower. And as I recall the passes coming and going are 11,000 feet. Not much O-2 up there. ....
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| Jeff B
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2002-01-31 35132
All true. I live at 7500 ft and if I'm pulling trailers its normally at 5000-7500 ft - the Silverton-Durango episode was a bit of an outlier. If a person was pulling 5000 lb trailers infrequently at sea level on flat ground, a Tacoma would probably do ok. But if a person was pulling a 5000 lb trailer frequently, or in hilly country, or at much elevation at all, its just not the right tool for the job in my opinion. Don't get me wrong - I'm really happy with the vehicle. It carries a decent load and is a great off-roader. But pulling 5000 lb trailers isn't its strong point - its short on power and its clutch and suspension aren't really optimized for it. ....
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| reb
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2002-01-31 35135
I am inclined to agree with Jeff. My T100 (with 3 liter 6) is slow on the hills with a 1300-lb trailer. I wouldn't want anything heavier for travel in any kind of traffic. I get plenty of dirty looks now.
I notice that ads for some of the US trucks all talk about automatic transmissions when they mention maximum towing capacity. I dislike automatics, but they are probably preferable for heavy towing. ....
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| cutter
Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 1307 The South Shore of Lake Ontario, New York
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2002-01-31 35140
My use is strictly short distances and will normally be with less than a thousand pound payload plus the trailer. I have already towed a ton with it and had no problem at all. I want to be able to move my tractor if I need to and that would probably bring the total to around 4000# with loader and mower attached. ....
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| DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2002-01-31 35146
I am quite impressed with my 2000 Tacoma. I have the x-cab and the big 4 with a 5 speed and I live at 5000 feet elevation in Nevada. It certainly runs just as strong as my 93 with the v-6, maybe that's because they both have the same horsepower rating. I towed a 3000+ pound 5th wheel all over Alaska with my 93 and it performed very well. A while back I talked myself into trying a 2000 V-6 automatic because I thought I was tired of shifting after 35 straight years and I thought I needed a bit more power. I could not discern any significant difference in performance between a 4 cyl/5 speed and a v-6/auto of the same vintage. Besides now that I am nearing 20,000 miles on the clock it is really starting to smooth out especially since I discovered premium gas. It makes a big difference in the percieved low end torque and drivability. ....
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| DonR
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2002-02-01 35159
I agree Mark. I am impressed with mine and think it should tow up to 5000# with the five speed as long as I don't try driving it to Alaska. Of course, I will have a trailer with brakes. ....
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